Periphery fill and localized capacitance

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and devices for periphery fill and localized capacitance are described. A memory array may be fabricated with certain containers connected to provide capacitance rather than to operate as memory cells. For example, a memory cell having one or two transistors, or other switching components, and one capacitor, such as a ferroelectric or dielectric capacitor, may be electrically isolated from one or more containers sharing a common access line, and the isolated containers may be used as capacitors. The capacitors may be used for filtering in some examples. Or the capacitance may be used to boost or regulate voltage in, for example, support circuitry.

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application for Patent is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/189,416, by Kawamura et al., entitled “PeripheryFill and Localized Capacitance,” filed Nov. 13, 2018, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/662,002, by Kawamuraet al., entitled “Periphery Fill and Localized Capacitance,” filed Jul.27, 2017, each of which is assigned to the assignee hereof, and isexpressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND

The following relates generally to operating a memory array and morespecifically to periphery fill and localized capacitance.

Memory devices are widely used to store information in variouselectronic devices such as computers, wireless communication devices,cameras, digital displays, and the like. Information is stored byprogramming different states of a memory device. For example, binarydevices have two states, often denoted by a logic “1” or a logic “0.” Inother systems, more than two states may be stored. To access the storedinformation, a component of the electronic device may read, or sense,the stored state in the memory device. To store information, a componentof the electronic device may write, or program, the state in the memorydevice.

Various types of memory devices exist, including magnetic hard disks,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM),synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM(MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM),and others. Memory devices may be volatile or non-volatile. Non-volatilememory, e.g., FeRAM, may maintain their stored logic state for extendedperiods of time even in the absence of an external power source.Volatile memory devices, e.g., DRAM, may lose their stored state overtime unless they are periodically refreshed by an external power source.FeRAM may use similar device architectures as volatile memory but mayhave non-volatile properties due to the use of a ferroelectric capacitoras a storage device. FeRAM devices may thus have improved performancecompared to other non-volatile and volatile memory devices.

Improving memory devices, generally, may include increasing memory celldensity, increasing read/write speeds, increasing reliability,increasing data retention, reducing power consumption, or reducingmanufacturing costs, among other metrics. Unnecessary or avoidableprocess steps may lead to increased manufacturing costs. Fabricatingadditional components on a memory chip may affect other metrics, such aspower consumption, latency, or the like, particularly if thoseadditional components are fabricated in a manner that occupies portionsof the chip that could otherwise be usable for memory functions. It maytherefore be advantageous to avoid fabricating ancillary components onthe memory chip when possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example memory device that supports features andoperations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example circuit diagram that supports features andoperations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example circuit diagram that supports features andoperations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example circuit diagram that supports features andoperations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example circuit diagram that supports features andoperations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example memory device that supports features andoperations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example memory device that supports features andoperations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a system that supports featuresand operations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a device that supports featuresand operations in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart that illustrates a method or methods foroperating a memory device that supports periphery fill and localizedcapacitance in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A memory device may be fabricated with ancillary components, such ascapacitors, with few or no additional process steps beyond those used tofabricate the memory cells of the device. Capacitors, for example, maybe formed in the same type of container as memory cells of the array,and they may be formed in the same or approximately the same plane ascells of the array. The capacitors may be coupled to access lines of thearray and electrically isolated from cells of the array. The capacitorsmay occupy containers that would otherwise be unsuitable or notpreferable for memory cells thus taking advantage of otherwise unusedportions of a memory chip while still providing capacitance for busstabilization, filtering, voltage boosting, or the like. In someexamples, the capacitance may be used to boost or regulate voltage in,for example, support circuitry. This may make capacitance available toimprove chip or array operation without increasing die size of thearray.

Features of the disclosure introduced above are further described belowin the context of a memory array. Specific examples are then describedfor a memory array that supports periphery fill and localizedcapacitance. These and other features of the disclosure are furtherillustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams,system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to periphery fill andlocalized capacitance. The disclosure may relate to any non-volatilememory. Although some examples are discussed with reference to aferroelectric capacitor, the present disclosure is not limited toferroelectric memories.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example memory array 100 in accordance withvarious embodiments of the present disclosure. Memory array 100 may alsobe referred to as an electronic memory apparatus. Memory array 100includes memory cells 105 that are programmable to store differentstates. Each memory cell 105 may be programmable to store two states,denoted as a logic 0 and a logic 1. In some cases, memory cell 105 isconfigured to store more than two logic states. A memory cell 105 maystore a charge representative of the programmable states in a capacitor;for example, a charged and uncharged capacitor may represent two logicstates, respectively. DRAM architectures may commonly use such a design,and the capacitor employed may include a dielectric material with linearor para-electric electric polarization properties as the insulator. Bycontrast, a ferroelectric memory cell may include a capacitor with aferroelectric as the insulating material. Different levels of charge ofa ferroelectric capacitor may represent different logic states.Ferroelectric materials have non-linear polarization properties; somedetails and advantages of a ferroelectric memory cell 105 are discussedbelow.

Operations such as reading and writing may be performed on memory cells105 by activating or selecting access line 110 and digit line 115.Access lines 110 may also be known as word lines 110, and bit lines 115may also be known digit lines 115. References to word lines and bitlines, or their analogues, are interchangeable without loss ofunderstanding or operation. Activating or selecting a word line 110 or adigit line 115 may include applying a voltage to the respective line.Word lines 110 and digit lines 115 may be made of conductive materialssuch as metals (e.g., copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), tungsten(W), etc.), metal alloys, carbon, conductively-doped semiconductors, orother conductive materials, alloys, compounds, or the like.

According to the example of FIG. 1, each row of memory cells 105 isconnected to a single word line 110, and each column of memory cells 105is connected to a single digit line 115. By activating one word line 110and one digit line 115 (e.g., applying a voltage to the word line 110 ordigit line 115), a single memory cell 105 may be accessed at theirintersection. Accessing the memory cell 105 may include reading orwriting the memory cell 105.

Memory array 100 may be a three-dimensional (3D) memory array, wheretwo-dimensional (2D) memory arrays are formed on top of one another.This may increase the number of memory cells that may formed on a singledie or substrate as compared with 2D arrays, which in turn may reduceproduction costs or increase the performance of the memory array, orboth.

A 3D memory array may include two-dimensional (2D) memory arrays formedon top of one another. This may increase the number of memory cells thatmay be placed or created on a single die or substrate as compared with2D arrays, which in turn may reduce production costs or increase theperformance of the memory array, or both. Memory array 100 may includeany number of levels. Each level may be aligned or positioned so thatmemory cells 105 may be approximately aligned with one another acrosseach level. According to the example depicted in FIG. 1, memory array100 includes two levels of memory cells 105 and may thus be considered athree-dimensional memory array; however, the number of levels is notlimited to two. Each level may be aligned or positioned so that memorycells 105 may be approximately aligned with one another across eachlevel, forming a memory cell stack 145. Each memory cell 105 may includea selector device and a memory element in electronic communication witha first access line. In some examples, each memory cell 105 may be inelectronic communication with a first segment of the first access line.At least one capacitor may be formed in the container type common to thearray and may be coupled with access lines of the array. The capacitormay be electrically isolated from memory cell 105. In some examples,each memory cell 105 may contain multiple selector devices such thatmemory cell 105 may be coupled with a second access line. In someexamples, each memory cell 105 may be in electronic communication with afirst segment of the second access line. In some examples, at least onememory cell 105 of the array of memory cells 105 and each capacitor ofthe plurality of capacitors may be coupled with a second access line.

Each row of memory cells 105 may be connected to an access line 110, andeach column of memory cells 105 may be connected to a bit line 115.Access lines 110 and bit lines 115 may be substantially perpendicular toone another to create an array. As shown in FIG. 1, the two memory cells105 in a memory cell stack 145 may share a common conductive line suchas a bit line 115. That is, a bit line 115 may be in electroniccommunication with the bottom electrode of the upper memory cell 105 andthe top electrode of the lower memory cell 105. Other configurations maybe possible, for example, a third layer may share a access line 110 witha lower layer. In general, one memory cell 105 may be located at theintersection of two conductive lines such as a access line 110 and a bitline 115. This intersection may be referred to as a memory cell'saddress. A target memory cell 105 may be a memory cell 105 located atthe intersection of an energized access line 110 and bit line 115; thatis, access line 110 and bit line 115 may be energized in order to reador write a memory cell 105 at their intersection. Other memory cells 105that are in electronic communication with (e.g., connected to) the sameaccess line 110 or bit line 115 may be referred to as untargeted memorycells 105. Similarly, each memory cell 105 may include a selector deviceand a memory element in electronic communication with a first accessline. In some examples, each memory cell 105 may be in electroniccommunication with a first segment of a first access line. At least onecapacitor may be formed in the container type common to the array andmay be coupled with access lines of the array. In some examples, eachcapacitor may be in electronic communication with a second segment of afirst access line. Each memory cell may be in electronic communicationwith a first access line (e.g., access line 110). Access line 110 may beconfigured such that the capacitor may be electrically isolated frommemory cell 105.

As discussed above, electrodes may be coupled to a memory cell 105 andan access line 110 or a bit line 115. The term electrode may refer to anelectrical conductor, and in some cases, may be employed as anelectrical contact to a memory cell 105. An electrode may include atrace, wire, conductive line, conductive layer, or the like thatprovides a conductive path between elements or components of memoryarray 100.

Operations such as reading and writing may be performed on memory cells105 by activating or selecting access line 110 and digit line 115.Access lines 110 may also be known as word lines 110, and bit lines 115may also be known digit lines 115. References to word lines and bitlines, or their analogues, are interchangeable without loss ofunderstanding or operation. Activating or selecting a word line 110 or adigit line 115 may include applying a voltage to the respective line.Word lines 110 and digit lines 115 may be made of conductive materialssuch as metals (e.g., copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), tungsten(W), etc.), metal alloys, carbon, conductively-doped semiconductors, orother conductive materials, alloys, compounds, or the like.

In some architectures, the logic storing device of a cell, e.g., acapacitor, may be electrically isolated from the digit line by aselection component. The word line 110 may be connected to and maycontrol the selection component. For example, the selection componentmay be a transistor and the word line 110 may be connected to the gateof the transistor. Activating the word line 110 results in an electricalconnection or closed circuit between the capacitor of a memory cell 105and its corresponding digit line 115. The digit line may then beaccessed to either read or write the memory cell 105. Each memory cell105 may contain at least one selector device and a memory element, whichmay be formed in a container type common to an array that includes thememory cell. Word line 110 may be connected to each of the selectioncomponents such that each memory cell may be electrically isolated froma capacitor formed in the container type common to the array and coupledwith word line 110. Accessing memory cells 105 may be controlled througha row decoder 120 and a column decoder 130. For example, a row decoder120 may receive a row address from the memory controller 140 andactivate the appropriate word line 110 based on the received rowaddress. Similarly, a column decoder 130 receives a column address fromthe memory controller 140 and activates the appropriate digit line 115.

Upon accessing, a memory cell 105 may be read, or sensed, by sensecomponent 125 to determine the stored state of the memory cell 105. Forexample, after accessing the memory cell 105, the ferroelectriccapacitor of memory cell 105 may discharge onto its corresponding digitline 115. Discharging the ferroelectric capacitor may result frombiasing, or applying a voltage, to the ferroelectric capacitor. Thedischarging may cause a change in the voltage of the digit line 115,which sense component 125 may compare to a reference voltage (not shown)in order to determine the stored state of the memory cell 105. Forexample, if digit line 115 has a higher voltage than the referencevoltage, then sense component 125 may determine that the stored state inmemory cell 105 was a logic 1 and vice versa. Sense component 125 mayinclude various transistors or amplifiers in order to detect and amplifya difference in the signals, which may be referred to as latching. Thedetected logic state of memory cell 105 may then be output throughcolumn decoder 130 as output 135. In some cases, sense component 125 maybe part of a column decoder 130 or row decoder 120. Or, sense component125 may be connected to or in electronic communication with columndecoder 130 or row decoder 120.

Additionally, if an applied voltage does not result in current flow,other voltages may be applied until a current is detected by sensecomponent 125. By assessing the voltage that resulted in current flow,the stored logic state of the memory cell 105 may be determined. In somecases, the voltage may be ramped up in magnitude until a current flow isdetected. In other cases, predetermined voltages may be appliedsequentially until a current is detected. Likewise, a current may beapplied to a memory cell 105 and the magnitude of the voltage to createthe current may depend on the electrical resistance or the totalthreshold voltage of the memory cell 105.

A memory cell 105 may be set, or written, by similarly activating therelevant word line 110 and digit line 115—i.e., a logic value may bestored in the memory cell 105. Column decoder 130 or row decoder 120 mayaccept data, for example input/output 135, to be written to the memorycells 105. Memory cell 105 may contain multiple selector devices. Eachselector device may be a transistor or a thin-film transistor (TFT).Each gate of each transistor may be coupled to a voltage source suchthat a corresponding charge may be stored in memory cell 105.Additionally or alternatively, for example, each gate of each transistormay be hardwired to a voltage source. The corresponding charge mayrepresent logic “0” or logic “1.”

In some memory architectures, accessing the memory cell 105 may degradeor destroy the stored logic state and re-write or refresh operations maybe performed to return the original logic state to memory cell 105. InDRAM, for example, the capacitor may be partially or completelydischarged during a sense operation, corrupting the stored logic state.So the logic state may be re-written after a sense operation.Additionally, activating a single word line 110 may result in thedischarge of all memory cells in the row; thus, several or all memorycells 105 in the row may need to be re-written.

Some memory architectures, including DRAM, may lose their stored stateover time unless they are periodically refreshed by an external powersource. For example, a charged capacitor may become discharged over timethrough leakage currents, resulting in the loss of the storedinformation. The refresh rate of these so-called volatile memory devicesmay be relatively high, e.g., tens of refresh operations per second forDRAM arrays, which may result in significant power consumption. Withincreasingly larger memory arrays, increased power consumption mayinhibit the deployment or operation of memory arrays (e.g., powersupplies, heat generation, material limits, etc.), especially for mobiledevices that rely on a finite power source, such as a battery. Asdiscussed below, ferroelectric memory cells 105 may have beneficialproperties that may result in improved performance relative to othermemory architectures. For example, FeRAM may offer comparable read/writespeeds as DRAM but may be non-volatile and allow for increased celldensity.

The memory controller 140 may control the operation (e.g., read, write,re-write, refresh, discharge, etc.) of memory cells 105 through thevarious components, for example, row decoder 120, column decoder 130,and sense component 125. In some cases, one or more of the row decoder120, column decoder 130, and sense component 125 may be co-located withthe memory controller 140. Memory controller 140 may generate row andcolumn address signals in order to activate the desired word line 110and digit line 115. Memory controller 140 may also generate and controlvarious voltages or currents used during the operation of memory array100. For example, it may apply discharge voltages to a word line 110 ordigit line 115 after accessing one or more memory cells 105. In general,the amplitude, shape, or duration of an applied voltage or currentdiscussed herein may be adjusted or varied and may be different for thevarious operations discussed in operating memory array 100. Further,one, multiple, or all memory cells 105 within memory array 100 may beaccessed simultaneously; for example, multiple or all cells of memoryarray 100 may be accessed simultaneously during a reset operation inwhich all memory cells 105, or a group of memory cells 105, are set to asingle logic state.

Further, for example, memory controller 140 may be in electroniccommunication with each of the plurality of capacitors, as describedabove. Each of the plurality of capacitors may represent a separatememory cell (e.g., memory cell 105) and each of the plurality ofcapacitors may each be in electronic communication with a plurality ofsegments of each of the first access line and the second access line.Memory controller 140 may be operable to access each memory cell fromthe array of memory cells (e.g., memory array 100) that is in electroniccommunication with a first access line (e.g., access line 110) andsupport circuitry. Memory controller 140 may be further operable tocapacitively couple a node (e.g., filter a voltage at a node) in thesupport circuitry with at least one capacitor that is in electroniccommunication with the first access line while accessing the memorycell, where the memory cell and the at least one capacitor areelectrically isolated from one another, and where the at least onecapacitor comprises and the memory cell comprise a same container type.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example circuit 200 that supports periphery filland localized capacitance in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Circuit 200 includes memory cell 105-a that mayinclude at least one selector device and a memory element formed in acontainer type common to an array that includes memory cell 105-a.Memory cell 105-a may be an example of memory cell 105 as described withreference to FIG. 1. Circuit 200 may also include a word line 110-a,digit line 115-a, and sense component 125-a, which may be examples ofword line 110, digit line 115, and sense component 125, respectively, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1. Memory cell 105-a may include alogic storage component, such as capacitor 205 that has a first plate,cell plate 230, and a second plate, cell bottom 215.

An array or device of which circuit 200 is part of may include one ormore additional capacitors that may be formed in a container type commonto the array. The one or more additional capacitors (not illustrated)may be electrically isolated from memory cell 105-a. The one or moreadditional capacitors may have a ferroelectric material or a lineardielectric material. Ferroelectric material may have certain propertiesthat are useful for memory components, as described herein, and suchmaterials may be leveraged to provide capacitance to portions of circuit200 or other portions of the array of which circuit 200 is a part.

The following examples and discussion made with reference to circuit 200and FIG. 2 may provide additional context for understanding an exemplaryarray, such as that depicted in FIG. 1. Cell plate 230 and cell bottom215 may be capacitively coupled through a ferroelectric materialpositioned between them. The orientation of cell plate 230 and cellbottom 215 may be flipped without changing the operation of memory cell105-a. Circuit 200 may also include selection component 220 andreference line 225. Cell plate 230 may be accessed via plate line 210and cell bottom 215 may be accessed via digit line 115-a. As describedabove, various states may be stored by charging or discharging capacitor205.

The stored state of capacitor 205 may be read or sensed by operatingvarious elements represented in circuit 200. Capacitor 205 may be inelectronic communication with digit line 115-a. For example, capacitor205 can be electrically isolated from digit line 115-a when selectioncomponent 220 is deactivated, and capacitor 205 can be connected todigit line 115-a when selection component 220 is activated. Activatingselection component 220 may be referred to as selecting memory cell105-a. In some cases, selection component 220 is a transistor or a TFTand its operation is controlled by applying a voltage to the transistorgate, where the voltage magnitude is greater than the thresholdmagnitude of the transistor. Word line 110-a may activate selectioncomponent 220; for example, a voltage applied to word line 110-a isapplied to the transistor gate.

In other examples, the positions of selection component 220 andcapacitor 205 may be switched, such that selection component 220 isconnected between plate line 210 and cell plate 230 and such thatcapacitor 205 is between digit line 115-a and the other terminal ofselection component 220. In this embodiment, selection component 220 mayremain in electronic communication with digit line 115-a and may beelectrically isolated from capacitor 205. For example, capacitor 205 canbe electrically isolated from digit line 115-a when selection component220 is deactivated, and capacitor 205 can be connected to digit line115-a when selection component 220 is activated. This configuration maybe associated with alternative timing and biasing for read and writeoperations.

Due to the ferroelectric material between the plates of capacitor 205,and as discussed in more detail below, capacitor 205 may not dischargeupon connection to digit line 115-a. In one scheme, to sense the logicstate stored by ferroelectric capacitor 205, word line 110-a may bebiased to select memory cell 105-a and a voltage may be applied to plateline 210. In some cases, digit line 115-a is virtually grounded and thenisolated from the virtual ground, which may be referred to as“floating,” prior to biasing plate line 210 and word line 110-a. Biasingplate line 210 may result in a voltage difference (e.g., plate line 210voltage minus digit line 115-a voltage) across capacitor 205. Thevoltage difference may yield a change in the stored charge on capacitor205, where the magnitude of the change in stored charge may depend onthe initial state of capacitor 205—e.g., whether the initial statestored a logic 1 or a logic 0. This may cause a change in the voltage ofdigit line 115-a based on the charge stored on capacitor 205. Operationof memory cell 105-a by varying the voltage to cell plate 230 may bereferred to as “moving cell plate.”

The change in voltage of digit line 115-a may depend on its intrinsiccapacitance. That is, as charge flows through digit line 115-a, somefinite charge may be stored in digit line 115-a and the resultingvoltage depends on the intrinsic capacitance. The intrinsic capacitancemay depend on physical characteristics, including the dimensions, ofdigit line 115-a. Digit line 115-a may connect many memory cells 105 sodigit line 115-a may have a length that results in a non-negligiblecapacitance (e.g., on the order of picofarads (pF)). The resultingvoltage of digit line 115-a may then be compared to a reference (e.g., avoltage of reference line 225) by sense component 125-a in order todetermine the stored logic state in memory cell 105-a. Other sensingprocesses may be used.

Sense component 125-a may include various transistors or amplifiers todetect and amplify a difference in signals, which may be referred to aslatching. Sense component 125-a may include a sense amplifier thatreceives and compares the voltage of digit line 115-a and reference line225, which may be a reference voltage. The sense amplifier output may bedriven to the higher (e.g., a positive) or lower (e.g., negative orground) supply voltage based on the comparison. For instance, if digitline 115-a has a higher voltage than reference line 225, then the senseamplifier output may be driven to a positive supply voltage. In somecases, the sense amplifier may additionally drive digit line 115-a tothe supply voltage. Sense component 125-a may then latch the output ofthe sense amplifier and/or the voltage of digit line 115-a, which may beused to determine the stored state in memory cell 105-a, e.g., logic 1.Alternatively, if digit line 115-a has a lower voltage than referenceline 225, the sense amplifier output may be driven to a negative orground voltage. Sense component 125-a may similarly latch the senseamplifier output to determine the stored state in memory cell 105-a,e.g., logic 0. The latched logic state of memory cell 105-a may then beoutput, for example, through column decoder 130 as output 135 asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1.

To write memory cell 105-a, a voltage may be applied across capacitor205. Various methods may be used. In one example, selection component220 may be activated through word line 110-a. A voltage may be appliedacross capacitor 205 by controlling the voltage of cell plate 230(through plate line 210) and cell bottom 215 (through digit line 115-a).To write a logic 0, cell plate 230 may be taken high, that is, apositive voltage may be applied to plate line 210, and cell bottom 215may be taken low, e.g., virtually grounding or applying a negativevoltage to digit line 115-a. The opposite process is performed to writea logic 1, where cell plate 230 is taken low and cell bottom 215 istaken high.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example circuit 300 that supports periphery filland localized capacitance in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Circuit 300 includes memory cell 305 that mayinclude at least one selector device and a memory element formed in acontainer type common to an array that includes the memory cell. Circuit300 may additionally include first switching component 310, memoryelement 315, second switching component 320, first access line 325,first electronic isolation 330, second access line 335, secondelectronic isolation 340, and capacitor 345. First access line 325 mayinclude a first segment (not shown) and a second segment (not shown) andsecond access line 335 may include a first segment (not shown) and asecond segment (not shown). First switching component 310 and secondswitching component 320 may be referred to as a first transistor and asecond transistor, respectively, or a first TFT and second TFT,respectively. These various components may be examples of components asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Memory cell 305 may be coupled with first access line 325 via firstselector device 310. Memory element 315, located within memory cell 305,may be formed in a container type common to an array that includesmemory cell 305. In some cases, memory element 315 may be aferroelectric capacitor or a dielectric capacitor. In other examples,each memory cell 305 may include at least one memory element and eachmemory element of the array of memory cells may include a ferroelectriccapacitor or a dielectric capacitor.

Capacitor 345 may represent a capacitor formed in the container typecommon to the array and coupled with the first access line 325.Capacitor 345 may be electrically isolated from the memory cell 305 andmay represent a plurality of capacitors (e.g., capacitor 345) formed inthe container type common to the array. Multiple capacitors may becoupled with the first access line 325 and each may be electricallyisolated from memory cell 305. In some cases, capacitor 345 may becoupled with the first access line 325 via a first switching component310 and a second switching component 320. In some cases, each capacitorof the plurality of capacitor may be formed in a same container type aseach memory cell of the array of memory cells.

As previously mentioned, first switching component 310 and secondswitching component 320 may be transistors or TFTs. In some examples,the gate of each transistor (e.g., first switching component 310) may becoupled with a voltage source (not shown). In some examples, a gate ofeach of the first TFT and second TFT may be hardwired to a voltagesource (not shown). A voltage may be applied to, for example, the firstswitching component 310 based on selecting memory cell 305. This mayresult in a charge on first access line 325. First switching component310 may be a gate, where the voltage magnitude of the first access linemay be greater than the threshold magnitude of the first switchingcomponent 310.

When a voltage is applied to first switching component 310, a chargecorresponding to a logic “0” or a logic “1” may be stored at memoryelement 315. However, first electronic isolation 330 and secondelectronic isolation 340 may prevent the corresponding charge from beingshared with capacitor 345. First electronic isolation 330 and secondelectronic isolation 340 may allow for multiple memory cells to bepatterned into the periphery of a memory array (e.g., memory array 100as described with reference to FIG. 1). In some examples, firstelectronic isolation 330 and second electronic isolation 340 may beformed via a chop mask. For example, first electronic isolation 330 maybe formed via a chop mask, resulting in access line 325 being isolatedinto two or more segments. In some examples, a first segment of accessline 325 may be coupled with memory cell 305 and a second segment ofaccess line 325 may be coupled with capacitor 345. Electronic isolation330 may result in memory cell 305 being electrically isolated fromcapacitor 345. In such examples, additional voltages may be applied toadditional switching components, which may result in multiple logicvalues being stored in multiple patterned memory cells.

An additional memory cell (e.g., memory cell 305) may contain anadditional memory element (e.g., memory element 315) formed in thecontainer type common to the array and be coupled with the first accessline 325 via an additional switching component. In some cases, eachmemory element may include a ferroelectric capacitor or a dielectriccapacitor. In some cases, each capacitor of the plurality comprises aferroelectric capacitor or a dielectric capacitor. Additionally, controlcircuitry (not shown) may be coupled to each of the memory cells (e.g.,memory cell 305) and each of the capacitors (e.g., capacitor 345). Eachmemory cell may overlie the control circuitry.

Additionally, a memory controller (not shown) may be in electroniccommunication with each of the plurality of capacitors (e.g., capacitor345). The memory controller may be operable to access a memory cell froman array of memory cells that is in electronic communication with afirst access line and support circuitry. Memory controller may befurther operable to capacitively couple a node in the support circuitrywith at least one capacitor that is in electronic communication with thesecond segment of the first access line while accessing the memory cell,where the memory cell and the at least one capacitor are electricallyisolated from one another, and where the at least one capacitorcomprises and each of the memory cells comprise a same container type.In some examples, the capacitive coupling may include capacitivelycoupling the node (e.g., refining, processing, or filtering a voltage ata node) with at the at least one capacitor. In other examples, thecapacitive coupling may include supplying a voltage to the node by theat least one capacitor. In other examples, the capacitive coupling mayinclude charging the at least one capacitor via the node.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example circuit 400 that supports periphery filland localized capacitance in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Circuit 400 includes memory cell 405 that mayinclude at least one selector device and a memory element formed in acontainer type common to an array that includes the memory cell. Circuit400 may additionally include first switching component 410, capacitor415, first access line 420, first electronic isolation 425, secondaccess line 430, second electronic isolation 435, and capacitor 440.First access line 420 may include a first segment (not shown) and asecond segment (not shown) and second access line 430 may include afirst segment (not shown) and a second segment (not shown). Firstswitching component 410 may be referred to as a transistor or thin filmtransistor (TFT). These various components may be examples of componentsas described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Memory cell 405 may be coupled with first access line 420 via firstswitching component 410. Memory element, located within memory cell 405,may be formed in a container type common to an array that includesmemory cell 405. In some cases, memory element may be a ferroelectriccapacitor or a dielectric capacitor.

Capacitor 415 may represent a capacitor 415 formed in the container typecommon to the array and coupled with the first access line 420.Capacitor 415 may be electrically isolated from the memory cell 405 andmay represent a plurality of capacitor 415 formed in the container typecommon to the array. Multiple capacitors 415 may be coupled with thefirst access line and each may be electrically isolated from memory cell405. In some cases, capacitor 415 may be coupled with the first accessline 420 via a first switching component and each capacitor 415 of theplurality may be coupled with the first access line 420 via anadditional switching component. In some cases, each capacitor 415 of theplurality of capacitor 415 may be formed in a same container type aseach memory cell of the array of memory cells.

As previously mentioned, first switching component 410 may be atransistor or a TFT. In some examples, the gate of the transistor (e.g.,first switching component 410) may be coupled with a voltage source (notshown). In some examples, a gate of TFT may be hardwired to a voltagesource. A voltage may be applied to first switching component 410 basedon selecting memory cell 405. This may result in a charge on firstaccess line 420 or second access line 430. First switching component 410may be a gate, where the voltage magnitude of the first access line maybe greater than the threshold magnitude of the first switching component410.

When a voltage is applied to first switching component 410, a chargecorresponding to a logic “0” or a logic “1” may be stored at capacitor415. However, first electronic isolation 425 and second electronicisolation 435 may prevent the corresponding charge from being sharedwith capacitor 440. First electronic isolation 425 and second electronicisolation 435 may allow for multiple memory cells to be patterned intothe periphery of a memory array (e.g., memory array 100 as describedwith reference to FIG. 1). In some examples, first electronic isolation425 and second electronic isolation 435 may be formed via a chop mask.For example, first electronic isolation 425 may be formed via a chopmask, resulting in access line 420 being isolated into two or moresegments. In some examples, a first segment of access line 420 may becoupled with memory cell 405 and a second segment of access line 420 maybe coupled with capacitor 440. Electronic isolation 425 may result inmemory cell 405 being electrically isolated from capacitor 440. In suchan example, additional voltages may be applied to additional switchingcomponents, which may result in multiple logic values being stored inmultiple patterned memory cells.

Additional memory cells 405 may each contain an additional memoryelement formed in the container type common to the array and be coupledwith the first access line 420 via an additional switching component. Insome cases, each memory element may include a ferroelectric capacitor ora dielectric capacitor. In some cases, each capacitor of the pluralitycomprises a ferroelectric capacitor or a dielectric capacitor.Additionally, control circuitry (not shown) may be coupled to each ofthe memory cells (e.g., memory cell 405) and each of the capacitors(e.g., capacitor 440). In some examples, control circuitry may becoupled to the array of memory cells and to the plurality of capacitors(e.g., capacitor 440), wherein the array of memory cells 405 and theplurality of capacitors overlie the control circuitry.

Additionally, a memory controller (not shown) may be in electroniccommunication with each of the plurality of capacitors (e.g., capacitor440). The memory controller may be operable to access a memory cell froman array of memory cells that is in electronic communication with afirst access line and support circuitry. Memory controller may befurther operable to capacitively couple a node (e.g., filter a voltageat a node) in the support circuitry with at least one capacitor that isin electronic communication with the first access line while accessingthe memory cell, where the memory cell and the at least one capacitorare electrically isolated from one another, and where the at least onecapacitor comprises and the memory cell comprise a same container type.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example circuit 500 that supports periphery filland localized capacitance in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Circuit 500 includes at least one access component510 and may include at least one capacitor 515, first access line 520,first electronic isolation 525, second access line 530, and secondelectronic isolation 530. First access line 520 may include a firstsegment (not shown) and a second segment (not shown) and second accessline 530 may include a first segment (not shown) and a second segment(not shown). Access component 510 may be referred to as a switchingcomponent or as a transistor or TFT. These various components may beexamples of components as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Capacitor 515 may represent a capacitor 515 formed in the container typecommon to the array and coupled with the first access line 520.Capacitor 515 may be electrically isolated from an additional capacitor515-a formed in the container type common to the array. Multiplecapacitors 515 may be coupled with the first access line and each may beelectrically isolated from each other. In some cases, capacitor 515-amay be coupled with the first access line 520 directly—i.e., via a shortor shorted selection component 512. For example, selection component 512may be an access device, such as a TFT, with the source and drainshorted or directly tied to one another.

As previously mentioned, access component 510 may be a transistor or aTFT. In some examples, the gate of the transistor (e.g., accesscomponent 510) may be coupled with a voltage source (not shown). In someexamples, a gate of the TFT may be hardwired to a voltage source. Insome examples, access component 510 may be shorted source to drain. Avoltage may be applied to access component 510, which may result in acharge on first access line 520 or second access line 530.

When a voltage is applied to access component 510, a charge may bestored at capacitor 515. However, first electronic isolation 525 andsecond electronic isolation 535 may prevent the corresponding chargefrom being shared with capacitor 515-a. First electronic isolation 525and second electronic isolation 535 may allow for multiple capacitors(e.g., capacitor 515-a) to be patterned into the periphery of a memoryarray (e.g., memory array 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1). Insome examples, first electronic isolation 525 and second electronicisolation 535 may be formed via a chop mask. For example, firstelectronic isolation 525 may be formed via a chop mask, resulting inaccess line 520 being isolated into two or more segments. In someexamples, a first segment of access line 520 may be coupled withcapacitor 515 and a second segment of access line 520 may be coupledwith capacitor 515-a. Electronic isolation 525 may result in capacitor515 being electrically isolated from capacitor 515-a. In such anexample, additional voltages may be applied to additional accesscomponents (e.g., access component 510-a), which may result in multiplecharges being stored in multiple capacitors.

In some cases, each capacitor may be a ferroelectric capacitor or adielectric capacitor. Additionally, control circuitry (not shown) may becoupled to each of the capacitors (e.g., capacitor 515). Each capacitorcell may overlie the control circuitry. Additionally, a memorycontroller (not shown) may be in electronic communication with each ofthe plurality of capacitors (e.g., capacitor 515). The memory controllermay be operable to capacitively couple a node (e.g., filter a voltage ata node) in the support circuitry with at least one capacitor that is inelectronic communication with the first access line.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example memory array 600 with periphery fill andlocalized capacitance in accordance with various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Memory array 600 may be an example of memory array100 as described with reference to FIG. 1 and may include metal lines605, bit lines 610, access line 615, access line 617, containers 620,interconnects 625, contacts 630, and CMOS under array (CuA) 635. In someexamples, interconnects 625 may be referred to as contacts 625 or vias625. These various components may be examples of components as describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 through 5.

Bit lines 610 may be referred to as digit lines 610 and may be anexample of digit lines 115 as described with reference to FIG. 1. Accessline 615 may be referred to as word line 615 and may be an example ofword lines 110 as described with reference to FIG. 1. In some examples,access line 617 may be referred to as plate line 617 and may be anexample of plate line 210 as described with reference to FIG. 2.Operations may be performed on memory array 600 by activating orselecting bit lines 610, access line 615, and access line 617, which mayinclude applying a voltage to the respective line. Metal lines 605 andinterconnects 625 may facilitate access to bit lines 610, access line615, and access line 617 and may be made of conductive materials such asmetals (e.g., Silicon (Si), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), gold (Au),tungsten (W), etc.), metal alloys, carbon, conductively-dopedsemiconductors, or other conductive materials, alloys, compounds, or thelike.

Containers 620 may represent a container type common to the array asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 3 through 5. Each container may be inelectronic communication with or include a capacitor (e.g., capacitor515 as described with reference to FIG. 5) and, in some examples, atleast one access component (e.g., access component 510 as described withreference to FIG. 5), which may be referred to as a switching componentor as a transistor or TFT. Each container 620 may be in electroniccommunication with bit lines 610, access line 615, and access line 617via at least one access component. Containers 620 may includeferroelectric capacitors, dielectric capacitors, or paraelectriccapacitors. Array 600 may be an array of FeRAM or DRAM or a combinationof both.

When a voltage is applied to an access component, a charge may be storeda capacitor located within a container 620. Each container 620 may beelectrically isolated via a first electronic isolation (not shown) and asecond electronic isolation (not shown). The first electronic isolationand the second electronic isolation may be examples of first electronicisolation 525 as described with reference to FIG. 5 and secondelectronic isolation 535 as described with reference to FIG. 5,respectively. Because multiple capacitors may be coupled with bit lines610, access line 615, and access line 617, first and second electronicisolation may prevent the corresponding charge from being shared withcapacitors in multiple containers 620. Thus multiple capacitors may bepatterned into the periphery of a memory array 600.

Containers 620 may overlie CuA 635. The CuA may underlie memory array600 and include support circuitry. The support circuitry may support thecapacitive coupling at a node (e.g., filtering of a voltage at a node)in the support circuitry with at least one capacitor that is inelectronic communication with the first access line while accessing thememory cell. The memory cell and the at least one capacitor may beelectrically isolated from one another and the at least one capacitorand the memory cell may include a same container type. CuA 635 may alsofacilitate the transfer of data via contacts 630. For example, contacts630 may include at least sixty (60) individual contacts and may transferdata stored in the periphery of memory array 600 to metal lines 605.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram 700 of a memory array 705 that supportsperiphery fill and localized capacitance in accordance with embodimentsof the present disclosure. Memory array 705 may be referred to as anelectronic memory apparatus, and may be an example of a component of amemory array 100 as described with reference to FIG. 1.

Memory array 705 may include one or more memory cells 710, a memorycontroller 715, a word line 750, a plate line 755 (e.g., plate line 210as described with reference to FIG. 2 or access line 617 as describedwith reference to FIG. 6), a reference generator 730, a sense component735, a digit line 740, a latch 745, a capacitor or capacitors 760, and anode 765. These components may be in electronic communication with eachother and may perform one or more of the functions described herein. Insome cases, memory controller 715 may include biasing component 720 andtiming component 725. In some cases, sense component 735 may serve asthe reference generator 730. In other cases, reference generator 730 maybe optional.

Memory controller 715 may be in electronic communication with word line750, digit line 740, sense component 735, and plate line 755, which maybe examples of word line 110, digit line 115, sense component 125, andplate line 210 described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 or access line617 as described with reference to FIG. 6. Memory array 705 may alsoinclude reference generator 730 and latch 745. The components of memoryarray 705 may be in electronic communication with each other and mayperform aspects of the functions described with reference to FIGS. 1through 4. In some cases, reference generator 730, sense component 735,and latch 745 may be components of memory controller 715.

In some examples, digit line 740 is in electronic communication withsense component 735 and a ferroelectric capacitor of ferroelectricmemory cells 710. A ferroelectric memory cell 710 may be writable with alogic state (e.g., a first or second logic state). In some examples,capacitor 760 may be in electronic communication with digit line 740. Inother examples, capacitor 760 may be in electronic communication withone or more additional circuits (not shown). Capacitor 760 may be, forexample, formed in the container type common to the array and may beelectrically isolated from memory cells 710. Additionally oralternatively, for example, a voltage may be capacitively coupled (e.g.,filtered) at node 765 with at least one capacitor (e.g., capacitors 760)that is in electronic communication with the first access line whileaccessing the memory cell (e.g., memory cell 710).

Word line 750 may be in electronic communication with memory controller715 and a selection component of ferroelectric memory cell 710. Plateline 755 may be in electronic communication with memory controller 715and a plate of the ferroelectric capacitor of ferroelectric memory cell710. Sense component 735 may be in electronic communication with memorycontroller 715, digit line 740, latch 745, and reference line (notshown). reference generator 730 may be in electronic communication withmemory controller 715 and reference line (not shown). Sense control line(not shown) may be in electronic communication with sense component 735and memory controller 715. These components may also be in electroniccommunication with other components, both inside and outside of memoryarray 705, in addition to components not listed above, via othercomponents, connections, or busses.

Memory controller 715 may be configured to activate word line 750, plateline 755, or digit line 740 by applying voltages to those various nodes.For example, biasing component 720 may be configured to apply a voltageto operate memory cell 710 to read or write memory cell 710 as describedabove. In some cases, memory controller 715 may include a row decoder,column decoder, or both, as described with reference to FIG. 1. This mayenable memory controller 715 to access one or more memory cells 105.Biasing component 720 may also provide voltage potentials to referencegenerator 730 in order to generate a reference signal for sensecomponent 735. Additionally, biasing component 720 may provide voltagepotentials for the operation of sense component 735.

In some cases, memory controller 715 may perform its operations usingtiming component 725. For example, timing component 725 may control thetiming of the various word line selections or plate biasing, includingtiming for switching and voltage application to perform the memoryfunctions, such as reading and writing, discussed herein. In some cases,timing component 725 may control the operations of biasing component720.

Reference generator 730 may include various components to generate areference signal for sense component 735. reference generator 730 mayinclude circuitry configured to produce a reference signal. In somecases, reference generator 730 may be implemented using otherferroelectric memory cells 105. Sense component 735 may compare a signalfrom memory cell 710 (through digit line 740) with a reference signalfrom reference generator 730. Upon determining the logic state, thesense component may then store the output in latch 745, where it may beused in accordance with the operations of an electronic device thatmemory array 705 is a part. Sense component 735 may include a senseamplifier in electronic communication with the latch and theferroelectric memory cell.

Memory controller 715 and/or at least some of its various sub-componentsmay be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor,firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in softwareexecuted by a processor, the functions of the memory controller 715and/or at least some of its various sub-components may be executed by ageneral-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an field-programmablegate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate ortransistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combinationthereof designed to perform the functions described in the presentdisclosure. The memory controller 715 and/or at least some of itsvarious sub-components may be physically located at various positions,including being distributed such that portions of functions areimplemented at different physical locations by one or more physicaldevices. In some examples, memory controller 715 and/or at least some ofits various sub-components may be a separate and distinct component inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In otherexamples, memory controller 715 and/or at least some of its varioussub-components may be combined with one or more other hardwarecomponents, including but not limited to an I/O component, atransceiver, a network server, another computing device, one or moreother components described in the present disclosure, or a combinationthereof in accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

Memory controller 715 may access a memory cell from an array of memorycells that is in electronic communication with a first access line.Additionally, for example, memory controller 715 may capacitively couple(e.g., filter a voltage) node 765 in support circuitry with at least onecapacitor 760 that is in electronic communication with the first accessline while accessing the memory cell 710. The memory cell 710 and the atleast one capacitor 760 may be electrically isolated from one anotherand the at least one capacitor and the memory cell may include a samecontainer type.

Additionally or alternatively, for example, memory controller 715 mayselect a first selector device that is coupled between the memory celland the first access line. Memory controller 715 may also select asecond selector device that is coupled between the memory cell and asecond access line. The at least one capacitor may be in electroniccommunication with a second segment of the first access line and asecond segment of the second access line. In some examples, memorycontroller 715 may select a selector device that is coupled between theat least one capacitor and the first access line. The capacitivecoupling may be based at least in part on selecting the selector device.In additional examples, memory controller 715 may select an additionalselector device that is coupled between the at least one capacitor and asecond access line. The capacitive coupling may be based at least inpart on selecting the additional selector device.

Memory controller 715 may include means for accessing a memory cell froman array of memory cells that is in electronic communication with afirst access line and support circuitry. Additionally, memory controller715 may include means for capacitively coupling (e.g., filtering) a nodein the support circuitry with at least one capacitor that is inelectronic communication with the first access line while accessing thememory cell, wherein the memory cell and the at least one capacitor areelectrically isolated from one another, and where the at least onecapacitor comprises and the memory cell comprise a same container type.

In some examples of the method and apparatus described above, memorycontroller 715 may include means for selecting a first selector devicethat may be coupled between the memory cell and the first access line.Some examples of the method and apparatus described above may furtherinclude processes, features, means, or instructions for selecting asecond selector device that may be coupled between the memory cell and asecond access line, wherein the at least one capacitor may be inelectronic communication with the first access line and the secondaccess line.

Some examples of the method and apparatus described above may furtherinclude processes, features, means, or instructions for selecting aselector device that may be coupled between the at least one capacitorand the first access line, wherein the capacitive coupling (e.g.,filtering) may be based at least in part on selecting the selectordevice.

Additionally, examples of the method and apparatus described above mayinclude processes, features, means, or instructions for selecting anadditional selector device that may be coupled between the at least onecapacitor and a second access line, wherein the capacitive coupling(e.g., filtering) may be based at least in part on selecting theadditional selector device.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram 800 of a memory controller 815 thatsupports periphery fill and localized capacitance in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. The memory controller 815 may bean example of aspects of a memory controller 715 described withreference to FIG. 7. The memory controller 815 may include biasingcomponent 820, timing component 825, access component 830, filteringcomponent 835, and selection component 840. In some examples, filteringcomponent 835 may include a capacitive component (not illustrated). Eachof these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with oneanother (e.g., via one or more buses). In some examples, thesecomponents may be software modules executable by controller 815.

Biasing component 820 or timing component 825 may cause controller 815to implement operations similar to those described with reference tobiasing component 720 of FIG. 7 and timing component 725 of FIG. 7,respectively.

Access component 830 may cause controller 815 to implement operations toaccess a memory cell from an array of memory cells that is in electroniccommunication with a first access line and support circuitry. In someexamples, accessing the memory cell may include selecting a firstselector device that is coupled between a memory cell (e.g., memory cell305 as described with reference to FIG. 3) and a first access line(e.g., first access line 325 as described with reference to FIG. 3).

Filtering component 835 may cause controller 815 to implement operationsto capacitively couple a node (e.g., filter a voltage at a node) in thesupport circuitry with at least one capacitor (e.g., capacitor 345 asdescribed with reference to FIG. 3) that is in electronic communicationwith a first access line (e.g., first access line 325 as described withreference to FIG. 3) while accessing the memory cell (e.g., memory cell305 as described with reference to FIG. 3). In some examples, filteringcomponent 835 may cause controller 815 to capacitively couple a node inthe support circuitry where the memory cell and the at least onecapacitor are electrically isolated from one another, and where the atleast one capacitor includes and the memory cell include a samecontainer type.

Selection component 840 may cause controller 815 to implement operationsto select a second selector device that is coupled between the memorycell (e.g., memory cell 305 as described with reference to FIG. 3) and asecond access line (e.g., second access line 335 as described withreference to FIG. 3). In some examples, selection component 840 maycause controller 815 to select a second selector device that is coupledbetween the memory cell where the at least one capacitor (e.g.,capacitor 345 as described with reference to FIG. 3) is in electroniccommunication with a first access line (e.g., first access line 325 asdescribed with reference to FIG. 3) and the second access line. In someexamples, selection component 840 may cause controller 815 to select aselector device that is coupled between the at least one capacitor andthe first access line, where the capacitive coupling is based onselecting the selector device. In some examples, selection component 840may cause controller 815 to select an additional selector device that iscoupled between the at least one capacitor and a second access line,where capacitive coupling is based on selecting the additional selectordevice.

FIG. 9 shows a diagram of a system 900 including a device 905 thatsupports periphery fill and localized capacitance in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. Device 905 may be an example ofor include the components of memory array 100 as described above, e.g.,as described with reference to FIG. 1. Device 905 may include componentsfor bi-directional voice and data communications including componentsfor transmitting and receiving communications, including memorycontroller 915, memory cells 920, basic input/output system (BIOS)component 925, processor 930, I/O controller 935, and peripheralcomponents 940. These components may be in electronic communication viaone or more busses (e.g., bus 910).

Memory controller 915 may operate one or more memory cells as describedherein. Specifically, memory controller 915 may be configured to supportperiphery fill and localized capacitance. In some cases, memorycontroller 915 may include a row decoder, column decoder, or both, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 1 (not shown).

Memory cells 920 may store information (i.e., in the form of a logicalstate) as described herein. Additionally, for example, each memory cell920 may include a selector device and a memory element formed in acontainer type common to an array that includes each memory cell 920.

BIOS component 925 may be a software component that includes BIOSoperated as firmware, which may initialize and run various hardwarecomponents. BIOS component 925 may also manage data flow between aprocessor and various other components, e.g., peripheral components,input/output control component, etc. BIOS component 925 may include aprogram or software stored in read only memory (ROM), flash memory, orany other non-volatile memory.

Processor 930 may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), amicrocontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, adiscrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardwarecomponent, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 930 maybe configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. Inother cases, a memory controller may be integrated into processor 930.Processor 930 may be configured to execute computer-readableinstructions stored in a memory to perform various functions (e.g.,functions or tasks supporting periphery fill and localized capacitance).

I/O controller 935 may manage input and output signals for device 905.I/O controller 935 may also manage peripherals not integrated intodevice 905. In some cases, I/O controller 935 may represent a physicalconnection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, I/Ocontroller 935 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®,MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operatingsystem. In other cases, I/O controller 935 may represent or interactwith a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device.In some cases, I/O controller 935 may be implemented as part of aprocessor. In some cases, a user may interact with device 905 via I/Ocontroller 935 or via hardware components controlled by I/O controller935.

Peripheral components 940 may include any input or output device, or aninterface for such devices. Examples may include disk controllers, soundcontroller, graphics controller, Ethernet controller, modem, universalserial bus (USB) controller, a serial or parallel port, or peripheralcard slots, such as peripheral component interconnect (PCI) oraccelerated graphics port (AGP) slots.

Input 945 may represent a device or signal external to device 905 thatprovides input to device 905 or its components. This may include a userinterface or an interface with or between other devices. In some cases,input 945 may be managed by I/O controller 935, and may interact withdevice 905 via a peripheral component 940.

Output 950 may also represent a device or signal external to device 905configured to receive output from device 905 or any of its components.Examples of output 950 may include a display, audio speakers, a printingdevice, another processor or printed circuit board, etc. In some cases,output 950 may be a peripheral element that interfaces with device 905via peripheral component(s) 940. In some cases, output 950 may bemanaged by I/O controller 935

The components of device 905 may include circuitry designed to carry outtheir functions. This may include various circuit elements, for example,conductive lines, transistors, capacitors, inductors, resistors,amplifiers, or other active or inactive elements, configured to carryout the functions described herein. Device 905 may be a computer, aserver, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, amobile phone, a wearable electronic device, a personal electronicdevice, or the like. Or device 905 may be a portion or aspect of such adevice.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 1000 for periphery filland localized capacitance in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The operations of method 1000 may be implemented by a memoryarray 100 or its components as described herein. For example, theoperations of method 1000 may be performed by a memory controller asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 through 9. In some examples, amemory array 100 may execute a set of codes to control the functionalelements of the device to perform the functions described below.Additionally or alternatively, the memory array 100 may perform aspectsof the functions described below using special-purpose hardware.

At block 1005 the memory array 100 may access a memory cell from anarray of memory cells that is in electronic communication with a firstsegment of a first access line and support circuitry. The operations ofblock 1005 may be performed according to the methods described withreference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 7. In certain examples, aspects of theoperations of block 1005 may be performed by a memory cell as describedwith reference to FIG. 7 through FIG. 9.

At block 1010 the memory array 100 may capacitively couple a node in thesupport circuitry with at least one capacitor that is in electroniccommunication with a second segment of the first access line whileaccessing the memory cell, wherein the memory cell and the at least onecapacitor are electrically isolated from one another, and wherein the atleast one capacitor and the memory cell comprise a same container type.The memory cell and the at least one capacitor may be electricallyisolated from each other and the at least one capacitor may and thememory cell may include a same container type. The operations of block1010 may be performed according to the methods described with referenceto FIG. 1 through FIG. 7. In certain examples, aspects of the operationsof block 1010 may be performed by a voltage node as described withreference to FIG. 7 through FIG. 9.

In some cases, accessing the memory cell may include selecting a firstselector device that is coupled between the memory cell and the firstsegment of the first access line. Additionally, for example, the methodmay include selecting a second selector device that is coupled betweenthe memory cell and a first segment of a second access line. The atleast one capacitor may be in electronic communication with the firstaccess line and the second access line.

In some cases, the method may also include selecting a selector devicethat is coupled between the at least one capacitor and the secondsegment of the first access line. The capacitive coupling (e.g.,filtering) may be based at least in part on selecting the selectordevice. In additional examples, the method may include selecting anadditional selector device that is coupled between the at least onecapacitor and a first segment of a second access line. The capacitivecoupling (e.g., filtering) may be based at least in part on selectingthe additional selector device. In other examples, the capacitivecoupling of the node in the support circuitry with the at least onecapacitor may include filtering a voltage at the node in the supportcircuitry with the at least one capacitor that is in electroniccommunication with the second segment of the first access line.

It should be noted that the methods described above describe possibleimplementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearrangedor otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.Further, embodiments from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any ofa variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsthat may be referenced throughout the above description may berepresented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magneticfields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combinationthereof. Some drawings may illustrate signals as a single signal;however, it will be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the artthat the signal may represent a bus of signals, where the bus may have avariety of bit widths.

As used herein, the term “virtual ground” refers to a node of anelectrical circuit that is held at a voltage of approximately zero volts(OV) but that is not directly connected with ground. Accordingly, thevoltage of a virtual ground may temporarily fluctuate and return toapproximately OV at steady state. A virtual ground may be implementedusing various electronic circuit elements, such as a voltage dividerconsisting of operational amplifiers and resistors. Otherimplementations are also possible. “Virtual grounding” or “virtuallygrounded” means connected to approximately OV.

The term “electronic communication” and “coupled” refer to arelationship between components that support electron flow between thecomponents. This may include a direct connection between components ormay include intermediate components.

Components in electronic communication or coupled to one another may beactively exchanging electrons or signals (e.g., in an energized circuit)or may not be actively exchanging electrons or signals (e.g., in ade-energized circuit) but may be configured and operable to exchangeelectrons or signals upon a circuit being energized. By way of example,two components physically connected via a switch (e.g., a transistor)are in electronic communication or may be coupled regardless of thestate of the switch (i.e., open or closed).

As used herein, the term “substantially” means that the modifiedcharacteristic (e.g., a verb or adjective modified by the termsubstantially) need not be absolute but is close enough so as to achievethe advantages of the characteristic.

As used herein, the term “electrode” may refer to an electricalconductor, and in some cases, may be employed as an electrical contactto a memory cell or other component of a memory array. An electrode mayinclude a trace, wire, conductive line, conductive layer, or the likethat provides a conductive path between elements or components of memoryarray 100.

The term “isolated” or “electrically isolated” refers to a relationshipbetween components in which electrons are not presently capable offlowing between them; components are isolated from each other if thereis an open circuit between them. For example, two components physicallyconnected by a switch may be isolated from each other when the switch isopen.

As used herein, the term “shorting” refers to a relationship betweencomponents in which a conductive path is established between thecomponents via the activation of a single intermediary component betweenthe two components in question. For example, a first component shortedto a second component may exchange electrons with the second componentwhen a switch between the two components is closed. Thus, shorting maybe a dynamic operation that enables the flow of charge betweencomponents (or lines) that are in electronic communication.

The devices discussed herein, including memory array 100, may be formedon a semiconductor substrate, such as silicon, germanium,silicon-germanium alloy, gallium arsenide, gallium nitride, etc. In somecases, the substrate is a semiconductor wafer. In other cases, thesubstrate may be a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, such assilicon-on-glass (SOG) or silicon-on-sapphire (SOP), or epitaxial layersof semiconductor materials on another substrate. The conductivity of thesubstrate, or sub-regions of the substrate, may be controlled throughdoping using various chemical species including, but not limited to,phosphorous, boron, or arsenic. Doping may be performed during theinitial formation or growth of the substrate, by ion-implantation, or byany other doping means.

A transistor or transistors discussed herein may represent afield-effect transistor (FET) and comprise a three terminal deviceincluding a source, drain, and gate. The terminals may be connected toother electronic elements through conductive materials, e.g., metals.The source and drain may be conductive and may comprise a heavily-doped,e.g., degenerate, semiconductor region. The source and drain may beseparated by a lightly-doped semiconductor region or channel. If thechannel is n-type (i.e., majority carriers are electrons), then the FETmay be referred to as a n-type FET. If the channel is p-type (i.e.,majority carriers are holes), then the FET may be referred to as ap-type FET. The channel may be capped by an insulating gate oxide. Thechannel conductivity may be controlled by applying a voltage to thegate. For example, applying a positive voltage or negative voltage to ann-type FET or a p-type FET, respectively, may result in the channelbecoming conductive. A transistor may be “on” or “activated” when avoltage greater than or equal to the transistor's threshold voltage isapplied to the transistor gate. The transistor may be “off” or“deactivated” when a voltage less than the transistor's thresholdvoltage is applied to the transistor gate.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appendeddrawings, describes example configurations and does not represent allthe examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of theclaims. The term “exemplary” used herein means “serving as an example,instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous overother examples.” The detailed description includes specific details forthe purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques.These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shownin block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of thedescribed examples.

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have thesame reference label. Further, various components of the same type maybe distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a secondlabel that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the firstreference label is used in the specification, the description isapplicable to any one of the similar components having the same firstreference label irrespective of the second reference label.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any ofa variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsthat may be referenced throughout the above description may berepresented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magneticfields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combinationthereof.

The various illustrative blocks and modules described in connection withthe disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with ageneral-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmablelogic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor,but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combinationof a digital signal processor (DSP) and a microprocessor, multiplemicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSPcore, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, softwareexecuted by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Ifimplemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may bestored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are withinthe scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to thenature of software, functions described above can be implemented usingsoftware executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, orcombinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may alsobe physically located at various positions, including being distributedsuch that portions of functions are implemented at different physicallocations. Also, as used herein, including in the claims, “or” as usedin a list of items (for example, a list of items prefaced by a phrasesuch as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates an inclusivelist such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C meansA or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, asused herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a referenceto a closed set of conditions. For example, an exemplary step that isdescribed as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition Aand a condition B without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shallbe construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in parton.”

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storagemedia and communication media including any medium that facilitatestransfer of a computer program from one place to another. Anon-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that can beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way ofexample, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media cancomprise RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable read only memory(EEPROM), compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magneticdisk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any othernon-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired programcode means in the form of instructions or data structures and that canbe accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection isproperly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the softwareis transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using acoaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line(DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave,then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digitalsubscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio,and microwave are included in the definition of medium. Disk and disc,as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the artto make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosurewill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other variations withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is notlimited to the examples and designs described herein, but is to beaccorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A apparatus, comprising: an array of memorycells, wherein one or more memory cells of the array are coupled with afirst segment of a first access line; a capacitor coupled with a secondsegment of the first access line, wherein the second segment of thefirst access line is isolated from the first segment of the first accessline; and circuitry coupled to the array of memory cells and thecapacitor, wherein the array of memory cells and the capacitor overlieat least a portion of the circuitry.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the capacitor is coupled with the first segment of the firstaccess line via a transistor and each memory cell of the array of memorycells comprises a respective second transistor.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein a gate of the transistor coupled with the first accessline is coupled to a voltage source.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: an additional capacitor formed in a container typecommon to the array and coupled with an additional segment of the firstaccess line, wherein the additional capacitor is electrically isolatedfrom the one or more memory cells coupled with the first segment of thefirst access line.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capacitor isformed in a same container type as each memory cell of the array ofmemory cells.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one memorycell of the array of memory cells and the capacitor are coupled with asecond access line.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each memorycell coupled with the second access line comprises a memory element thatis coupled with the first segment of the first access line via a firsttransistor and a segment of the second access line via a secondtransistor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each memory cellcomprises at least one memory element that includes a ferroelectriccapacitor.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capacitor comprisesa ferroelectric capacitor.
 10. An apparatus, comprising: a memory cellthat comprises a memory element coupled with a second access linesegment and coupled with a selector device that is coupled with a firstaccess line segment; and a capacitor formed in a container type commonto the memory cell, wherein the capacitor is coupled with a third accessline segment and a fourth access line segment, wherein the first accessline segment and the second access line segment are electricallyisolated from the third access line segment and the fourth access linesegment.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: anadditional capacitor formed in the container type common to the memorycell and electrically isolated from the memory cell, wherein theadditional capacitor is coupled with an access line segment that iscollinear with the first access line segment and the third access linesegment.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the additional capacitoris coupled with the access line segment via a transistor.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein the additional capacitor is configured tostore a charge independent from a plurality of capacitors formed in thecontainer type common to the array and coupled with a plurality ofsegments of first access line segments.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein the first access line segment and the third access line segmentare formed from a same access line.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein: the memory element is coupled with the first access linesegment via a first transistor and the second access line segment via asecond transistor; and the capacitor is coupled with the third accessline segment via a third transistor and the fourth access line segmentvia a fourth transistor.
 16. An apparatus, comprising: a memory cellcoupled with a first access line segment and a second access linesegment; circuitry coupled with the memory cell; a capacitor coupledwith a third access line segment and located between the first accessline segment and the second access line segment; and a memory controllercoupled with the memory cell, the circuitry, and the capacitor, thememory controller operable to cause the apparatus to: perform an accessoperation on the memory cell; and couple the capacitor with a node inthe circuitry while performing the access operation on the memory cell.17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory controller is furtherconfigured to cause the apparatus to: apply a voltage to a transistorcoupled with the third access line segment and the capacitor, whereinthe memory controller is configured to couple the capacitor with thenode in the circuitry based at least in part on applying the voltage.18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the memory controller is furtherconfigured to cause the apparatus to: apply the voltage to a pluralityof transistors each coupled with a respective capacitor of a pluralityof capacitors and a respective access line segment of a plurality ofaccess line segments; and couple each of the plurality of capacitorswith a respective node in the circuitry while performing the accessoperation on the memory cell.
 19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein thememory controller is configured to: activate a selector device includedin the memory cell, wherein the memory controller is configured toperform the access operation on the memory cell based at least in parton activating the selector device.
 20. The apparatus of claim 16,wherein the memory cell and the capacitor are located in a sameprocessing plane.